People say "sand" like it is one product, but a landscape yard carries several kinds and they are not swapped without trouble. Bedding or paver sand sets pavers, fill sand backfills and levels, play sand goes in play areas, masonry sand mixes into mortar, and joint or polymeric sand fills the gaps between pavers. Each one is graded for its job, so the right pick depends entirely on what you are building. Below is a plain rundown of the common sands and where each belongs.
The common types of landscaping sand
Bedding sand (paver sand). A coarse, sharp, washed sand used as the setting layer directly under pavers and steppers. It screeds flat, supports the units evenly, and lets a little water drain. This is the bed pavers sit in, usually about an inch deep over a compacted base. It is not the same as the fine sand you sweep into the joints afterward.
Fill sand. A general, inexpensive sand for backfilling, raising low spots, and leveling under a base. It is coarser and less uniform than bedding sand and often carries some silt, so it is meant for bulk filling rather than a finished surface. Use it to bring a grade up before you build, not as the final layer pavers rest on.
Play sand. A fine, washed, screened sand made for sandboxes and play areas. It is soft on hands and feet and cleaned of sharp debris. Because it is fine and rounded, it does not compact or support weight, so it stays in the play zone and nowhere structural.
Masonry sand. A fine, clean, evenly graded sand that blends into mortar and stucco. Its uniform grains give mortar a smooth, workable consistency for laying brick, block, and stone. It is mixed into a binder, not spread loose as a surface or a setting bed.
Joint sand and polymeric sand. Fine sand swept into the gaps between pavers once they are set. Plain joint sand fills the seams and helps lock the units. Polymeric sand has a binder mixed in that hardens when wetted, which holds the joints firmer and resists weeds and washout. This is a finishing step, not a base or bedding material.
Sand type to job at a glance
| Sand type | Main job | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Bedding / paver sand | Setting layer under pavers | About 1 inch under pavers and steppers, over a compacted base |
| Fill sand | Backfill and leveling | Raising low spots, backfilling, building up a grade |
| Play sand | Soft play surface | Sandboxes and play areas |
| Masonry sand | Mortar and stucco mix | Mixed into mortar for brick, block, and stone |
| Joint / polymeric sand | Locking paver joints | Swept into the gaps between set pavers |
Why the wrong sand causes problems
The most common mistake is using play sand or another fine sand under pavers. Fine, rounded sand does not compact or hold weight, so pavers set on it will settle, rock, and go wavy within a season. Pavers need the coarse, sharp grains of true bedding sand so the setting layer stays put under foot and vehicle loads.
It runs the other way too. Coarse fill sand is wrong for a sandbox, where you want a clean, soft play sand, and it is wrong in mortar, where masonry sand gives the smooth mix a mason needs. Bedding sand swept into joints is too gritty to pack tight, and fine joint sand used as a setting bed will not support the pavers. Matching the sand to the job is the whole point of buying it by type.
How sand fits a paver or flagstone project
A typical hardscape build stacks up in layers. A compacted base of road base or crushed rock goes down first, then a bedding sand setting layer, then the pavers or flagstone, then joint sand swept into the seams. The base carries the load, the bedding sand levels the units, and the joint sand locks them together. Our guide on how to build a flagstone patio walks through the same layered approach for natural stone.
Compactable base rock for that bottom layer lives in our base and ground materials collection, the units themselves are in pavers, and the sands are in the sand collection.
How much sand you need
Bedding sand is usually figured at about an inch deep under pavers, while fill sand depends on how much you are raising the grade and joint sand on how wide and deep your paver gaps are. Because quantity changes with depth and area, put your measurements into the coverage calculator for a real number instead of guessing. Sand is sold by bag, bulk, or pallet, and for large or far orders, rates vary by distance and weight, so request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Coarse, sharp bedding sand, also called paver sand. It screeds flat and supports the pavers evenly, usually about an inch deep over a compacted base. Do not use fine play sand or masonry sand under pavers, because they do not compact and the pavers will settle.
Can I use play sand under pavers?
No. Play sand is fine and rounded, so it does not compact or hold weight. Pavers set on play sand will shift and go wavy. Use bedding sand for the setting layer and keep play sand for sandboxes and play areas.
What is the difference between bedding sand and joint sand?
Bedding sand is the coarse setting layer pavers sit on. Joint sand is the fine sand swept into the gaps between pavers after they are set. Polymeric joint sand has a binder that hardens when wetted to hold the joints and resist weeds.
What sand do I use for mortar?
Masonry sand. It is fine and evenly graded, which gives mortar and stucco a smooth, workable mix for laying brick, block, and stone. Coarse fill or bedding sand makes a gritty, harder-to-work mortar.
What is fill sand used for?
Fill sand is a general, inexpensive sand for backfilling, leveling, and raising low spots before you build. It is coarser and less uniform than bedding sand and is meant for bulk filling, not as a finished surface or a setting bed under pavers.
Get the materials
Shop the sand collection for bedding, fill, and play sand, browse pavers for the units on top, and pick up compactable base in base and ground materials. Size the job with the coverage calculator. We deliver nationwide from our California yards.